Queenpads

The award was a recognition of Shirley's efforts towards building a sustainable business through her startup, Queenpads.

In her acceptance speech, Shirley expressed her deep gratitude towards everyone who supported and contributed to her entrepreneurial journey. She dedicated the award to her team at Queenpads, past and present colleagues, volunteers, partners, family, and her customers - the women and young girls in PNG who use Queenpads products.

Their objective: to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene and distribute Queenpads, reusable sanitary pads that are revolutionizing women's health across the nation.

The team's efforts were met with enthusiasm and gratitude from the local community. The session took place at East Cape Primary School and was attended by students from grades 5 to 8, as well as several female teachers and women from the surrounding area.

The session, recommended and coordinated by Lapieh Landu, proved to be an empowering experience for all participants.

In a groundbreaking initiative, the session went beyond the conventional discussions about menstrual health, delving into the topic of menopause. Despite not being originally planned, the conversation was considered vital for its relevance to the menstrual cycle.

Participants engaged enthusiastically in discussions held in tokples, the local language, facilitating a meaningful exchange of information.

At each institution, students were issued reusable Queenpads and informational brochures.

The Queenpads team arrived just in time for an evening session at Kerowagi Secondary. Over 200 school girls, the principal, and a few other members attended the session. The team received appreciation and recognition for their efforts in educating the girls about menstrual hygiene practices.

Anitua Ltd has organized this community initiative as part of its IWD activation, which commenced this week with various activities involving staff.

This collaboration will see Queenpads conduct menstrual health sessions in three primary schools and the only secondary and vocational school on Lihir Island, as well as with female staff of Anitua Ltd and its subsidiaries.

Reusable sanitary pads will be distributed during the awareness sessions, with the aim of reaching over 1,000 school girls.

At Taraka Primary School, Wawin National High School, and Lae Urban Ward 2 Women's Association, the team spoke to schoolgirls, female teachers, and women, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing menstrual needs and ending period shame and stigma. Each participant received a reusable Queenpad.

In Zifasing village, the team spoke to women working in biomass plantations and nearby communities, providing them with reusable Queenpads and educating them on menstrual hygiene practices.

The women of Ranuguri Community, Konedobu in Port Moresby will be part of this vital session on Thursday 9^th February, 2023.

The Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) Awareness session will start at 11am and end at 12 noon, covering an array of information on:

Queenpads Founder Anne Shirley Korave, in thanking CPL Foundation Chairman, Sir Mahesh Patel said “We are extremely pleased to receive the on-going support of CPL Foundation for the Menstrual Health Programs 2023 targeting their employees, female students, women in communities and the working class in PNG.”

Queenpads Founder, Anne Shirley Korave was pleased to receive once again the on-going support of the Sir Brian Bell Foundation as it will be targeting school girls, women in communities, marginalized and vulnerable women, and young girls and even extended to working women in Papua New Guinea.

She said: “This partnership has come a long way, and is continuing to meet the silent needs, and care for the special days of menstruators in the country.”